Because I’d posted about Grouper in winter, spring, and summer, I wanted an autumnal foto as well. Yet I feared it wouldn’t be there. What I found was worse: it was still there but vandals had left their marks.

They knocked windows out, and that could mean the beginning of the end, especially with winter approaching. While taking fotos, I met the owner, who

said the vandal was caught and the tug will soon be hauled out. He also said it had a very deep draft: 18’! Other reliable sources say 12.’ I’d love

to get up there again when it’s hauled to foto the hull and machinery. Please get in touch, D.

Nine months has brought lots of progress to the Onrust project near Schenectady. Onrust was first decked vessel built entirely in North America . . . and in Manhattan. Technically, it’s a yacht, which in original Dutch means “hunting,” i.e., a fast pursuit vessel designed to chase pirates.

Compare the juxtaposed shots from January and October 2008. New Netherlands Routes vessel is due to launch late spring 2009.

Above is January 08 and below is October. Note the blackened wood: curves in white oak result from fire-bending technique contemporaneous with original Onrust construction.

Closeup of a wooden scupper. All 4000 metals bolts need to be replaced by treenails.

Bow in January 08 and …

October 08.

Deck looking forward in January and …

deck looking forward now.

Current deck looking aft and …

stern in January looking in.

The hold now looking aft, with Elizabeth showing scale.

If you’re looking for an interesting view of a fascinating newbuild/replica project, contact New Netherlands routes and go see, just west of Schenectady on the banks of the Mohawk.

Uh . . . ? from a rainy Chesapeake comes this foto of a unique amalgamation. What might it be? Answer below.

And what vessels might these be, with what connection to the six boro? Answer also below, as is the rest of this post.

Back in the boro, where the sun blessed us this weekend, I imagined having a blast–my love and I on the river-– in a tiny sprit sail boat, [Play music from the “my love…” link while reading rest of post.]

Answers: Norfolk Rebel, tugantine, had its keel laid on April Fools Day 1978. Next, schooners are Amistad pursuing Lettie G. Howard. Lettie, built in Essex, MA, in 1893, has New York as its current homeport.

Put up whatever flags you will, and sail with your mates and thoughts before winter intrudes. There really are so many ways to mess about in wind boats, and from here, you can sail around the world.

I’d understate the truth if I said I can’t for the life of me understand why I’m attracted to Odin. Actually, I understand very few of my attractions or obsessions; they just pull my strings sometime. A month ago I wrote about this vessel here , and I’m back, intrigued as ever.

Sunday she tended a barge–bunker?–astride some great white vessel. Odin brought the house lower than I’ve ever seen.

Oh well… work is work. I simply enjoyed being intrigued more by the versatility of Odin, masterful shape shifter. Maybe K-Sea will get an Odin twin to name Loki. And I’ll keep trying to understand and respond appropriately to my attractions/attractors.

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